Streaming Pitching Options for Week 4: Niese, Hughes & More

On a weekly basis, I will be profiling those starting pitchers who are scheduled to take the mound in the upcoming scoring period. This is done to help you determine who to place try to grab from your league's free agent pool and/or who you should target as a player to send your FAAB funds on. Note that all the streaming options listed below are owned in less than 50% of leagues, and thus could be available on your waiver wire. Here are this week's set of potential streaming targets.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Chase Anderson ARI vs COL  Kyle Kendrick

Anderson likes to pitch at home, going by his 2014 road/home splits, and he has been continuing to pitch well at Chase Field. He has been contributing in the strikeout department (8 K/9 on the season), and his 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP are enticing. Getting Colorado away from Coors Field is another plus for this particular start, given his preference for home cooking.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

David Phelps MIA vs NYM Rafael Montero

I know the Mets are the darlings of the NL early on this season. He is coming off an excellent effort, albeit against the Phillies, and he gets to pitch at home this game. He also seemed to regain his control in his last start, and was not horrible with his walk rate last season, so there is reason to think his early wildness was an aberration. If he can ramp up his K rate to league average, he could be a decent streaming option all season, at least in pitcher-oriented parks, such as Marlins Park.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Phil Hughes MIN vs DET Shane Greene

Hughes gets to pitch at Target Field in this matchup, and the Tiger offense is not exactly clicking on all cylinders yet. His renewed tendency to give up the long ball, something he repressed last season dramatically, is of concern. His control, however, is superb, boasting a 22:2 K/BB ratio over his first 26.2 innings this season. The HR problem should be reduced at home, at least for this start.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Scott Feldman HOU vs SEA James Paxton

Mike Leake CIN @ ATL Shelby Miller

Feldman sports a bloated 4.81 ERA due to one bad outing against the A's in his second start. Otherwise, he has been posting QS in the other three starts. He does not offer much in the way of strikeouts, but he has good control and induces more than his fair share of ground balls (2.05 GB/FB ratio in 2015). He is a solid option, just do not expect to rack up any significant Ks if you use him.

Leake's biggest problem in 2015 has been the long ball. He has yielded five in 27.2 innings so far this season. He is a moderate ground ball inducer, and his control is not fantastic. His biggest skill this season is the ability to limit hits, resulting in a 1.01 WHIP. I would only use him here because of limited slate of games on Thursday.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Wei-Yin Chen BAL vs TB Chris Archer

Rubby De La Rosa ARI @ LAD TBA

Chen is a starting pitcher who just gets the job done. Nothing fancy, nothing exciting, just good pitching. Pitching at home is not a major issue for him, and the Rays are not a scary offense to face these days. Expect good control, a few Ks and decent peripherals.

De La Rosa goes on the road, and he does sport a 25:5 K/BB ratio on the year over 25 innings. Aside from an abysmal first start, he has been tossing QS when on the hill. The four homers on the season are worrisome, but he did not yield any to the Pirates at Chase Field in his last start, so maybe there is a correction going on. Maybe.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Jon Niese NYM vs WAS Doug Fister

Dan Haren MIA vs PHI Cole Hamels

I like Niese, that I will confess. I am impressed by the Mets so far. Niese gets to pitch at home, a pitcher-favorable park. Do I think his 1.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP are due for corrections? Yep. Can he put up another good outing, against a division rival? I am going to roster him, despite his 11:8 K/BB ratio and 20 hits over 18 innings. If you like to gamble on the hot hand, you might want to do so as well.

Haren has been pitching well, at least in his first two starts. Facing Philly on the road in his last start, he gave up two home runs which allowed all four earned runs to score. It was at Citizens Bank Park, not known for favoring pitchers, so there is that. He also racked up seven Ks, a season high. He gets to face the Phillies in a better park for his skills, and I am of the belief that will make a big difference this time around.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Jarred Cosart MIA vs PHI Dustin McGowan

Chase Anderson ARI @ LAD Brett Anderson

Cosart gets to face off against the Phillies at home, who he beat on the road in his last start. He is not very exciting, with a 10:4 K/BB ratio over his 17.1 innings pitched this season, but he does have a sub-4 ERA (3.63) and a 1.04 WHIP, so the other ratios are good so far. Plus, I do not see McGowan as all that much of a roadblock to stop the Marlins from scoring.

Anderson is this week's sole two-start streaming candidate. Look up top in the first entry for more details about him. He does do better at home for some reason, but pitching in LA is not a bad thing generally.

If you have any questions about starting pitching or fantasy baseball, feel free to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com.